Archive for August, 2009

Did you buy everything on the school supply list this year? Do you think your school’s list is unreasonable? Is it optional (yet requested)? Do you still pay a school supply fee when they kids start school?

I always buy all the supplies that school requests.  I am happy to buy whatever my children need. And I don’t even mind sending in some extra to help others who can’t afford to buy everything on the list. However, I’m still trying to figure out where in the heck the $10 school supply charge on the Gwinnett County form is going to. I happily pay the technology fee, the nurses’ fee, the PTA fees … but the supply charge baffles me when our list is so long.

I spent around $100 (not including a new backpack for Rose) this year to buy the optional/yet requested school supplies for my first and third grader.  I am amazed at how different the school supply lists can be even within Gwinnett County. A good friend teaches first grade at a Gwinnett school of similar financial …

Continue reading Did you buy EVERYTHING on the school supply list? »

Kids are showing up in the emergency rooms with injuries from their P.E. classes at more than DOUBLE the rate of 10 years ago, according to a new study in “Pediatrics.”

From the abstract of the study in “Pediatrics”:

“An estimated 405,305 children and adolescents were treated in emergency departments for PE-related injuries. The annual number of cases increased 150% during the study period (P = .001). Nearly 70% of PE-related injuries occurred during 6 activities, that is, running, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, and gymnastics. Boys’ injuries were more likely to involve the head, to be diagnosed as a laceration or fracture, to be attributable to contact with a person or structure, and to occur during group activities. Girls’ injuries were more likely to involve the lower extremities, to be strains and sprains, to be acute noncontact injuries, and to occur during individual activities.”

ABC News reports:

While injuries have increased, the number of students attending …

Continue reading Kids are getting hurt more in P.E., but WHY? »

Lilina and Rose play under our tent. At least you knew who your neighbors rooted for!

We did get in a trip to the beach last week, and I really appreciate Keith filling in for me.  We went to Orange Beach in Alabama, a very family-focused beach.

I had never been there before, but Michael had taken the kids there once before on business trip when I had the Norwalk virus and was throwing up everywhere. The kids loved the beach and wanted to return! So we did.

I am always fascinated with the vibe on different beaches and the customs and traditions. We’ve been to many beaches through the years – Miami, Dewey Beach in Delaware, Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, Tybee Island, St. Simons, Jekyll, Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna,  San Destin, and multiple beaches in Hawaii. We probably have gone most frequently to Hilton Head.

I haven’t been to the Gulf Coast in probably 10 years and the good folks at Orange Beach did some things I’ve never seen done before on a beach. Here are a few …

Continue reading How do you like to beach? »